But that hasn’t dampened the confidence of South West Pirates coach Cheryl Hilliam, who believes her teenagers can shake up the competition.

Hilliam is at the helm of the Pirates’ under 17 girls’ representative squad, which will contest division three at the long weekend tournament.

The squad has been a standout performer within the WVA ranks in recent years and hopes to take another step in 2015.

“Last season they played under 15s and got two gold medals and a silver medal at tournaments across Victoria,” Hilliam said.

“They’re very quiet achievers at the association being the younger ones. We let them go on doing what they’re doing.

“This year they’ve moved up to under 17s. They’ve done well.”

The juniors are Maddison Wright, Morgan Edge, Maddy O’Donnell, Kayla Atkinson, Emma Baillie, Ali Fedley, Jessica Thwaites and Chelsea Hunt.

They will be joined by 25-year-old Samantha Hilliam this weekend, who will provide on-court experience in the open-age division.

Preparations for the season, which kicks off with the seaside tournament, has included twice-weekly training, a personal training session and matches.

“They have been training every Sunday for the last 24 months. They’re totally dedicated,” Hilliam said.

“My main aim with them is to let them develop through their age groups, which is very important in volleyball. 

“It’s not just a skill game, it’s a mental game.”

Hilliam said a tournament at Geelong in a fortnight would be their next assignment. 

They are attempting to defend the title they won last year.

Trips to Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley follow before Victorian country championships at Bendigo mid-year.

“They are also playing in their domestic competition for the first time as a team, which will massively develop them on-court,” Hilliam said.

She thanked the players’ parents for driving their daughters across the state to compete.

“The parents of these kids are right behind them. They travel to nearly all of the tournaments with the kids. The support is unreal.”

A field of 73 will chase seaside tournament success this weekend, competing in eight divisions. The figure is one short of the record, set in 2014.

South West Pirates are represented in women’s division two and women’s division three.

Two other Warrnambool sides, playing under the South West Eagles banner, are also in the field, in men’s division three and women’s division two.

That men’s side features three sets of father-son combinations — Wayne and Daniel Hand, Paul and Martin van Rooy, and Michael and Tom Beks.

afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au